Nanny and dog poo

[JuliePoppins]

Originally I wasn't a nanny. I was a tutor and music practice supervisor to a child. But gradually I became a nanny to the family.I study in mornings and as they need me only after school it works fine schedule-wise.

One day the family got a puppy. I don't mind dogs. I actually think they are cute. But I have no idea how to take care of them and especially I dislike the poo business... The family asked me if I disliked dogs. I told them my honest view - I liked them but I was not very keen on becoming a dog sitter/dealing with poo... They reassured me they would teach their DCs how to look after the dog including poo picking so I wouldn't need to do anything. They also found a day care for the dog so he only comes back home at around 5pm during weekdays.

However, the dog still poos at home. And when he pooed, the children call me and expect me to clear them. I told them their mum told me they would know how to do it so I wouldn't need to do clearing poo. They seem to know what to do actually, but probably don't want to do it, and still expect me to pick them and wipe the floor and so on.

I feel guilty to tell them to do it, even though the parents said it's their job. They are so brilliant to make an excuse why I should do it/they can't do it... But I really really dislike DEALING WITH POO!!!

As a nanny, I do some light house-keeping such as dishes and tidying kids' laundries. Then leaving poo on the floor seems to be also my job... But is't it?? Do you think refusing to clear dog poo as a nanny is unreasonable behaviour?? Today I left poo on the floor and the mum cleared when she's back home...

But I do feel their request becomes endless. I even use my car to taxi the children for after school clubs. And now dog poo?? Really???

So had a nanny a year, until DC 1 started school. The only thing our nanny didn’t sort out, was the dead pigeon. To be fair, the animals caught it while I was at work. She was very apologetic.

Please stand firm and tell the parents you won't do it, as has already been discussed. They need to tell their kids - of course they would prefer you to do it but don't!

No. You made it clear you weren’t going to be dealing with the dog poo. Either the children do it (which I wouldn’t actually be keen on unless they’re teenagers and have good hygiene) or the parents collect the dog from doggy day care on their way home from work. It shouldn’t be pooing IN the house anyway!

You made your feelings known before they got the dog.

Is it shitting in the house? And they're expecting you to pick it up? Filthy beggars.

I have managed not to do it so far. But it's getting harder and harder. The mum seems to understand I wouldn't do it and she is fine with it, yet she is sort of hoping I will do it. So I am not sure how long I could refuse and I feel guilty I expect the children to do it.

I don't really understand the toilet system they are using, to be honest. I thought pet dogs usually have their toilet set up and although regular cleaning would be needed, no immediate pick up is required (so we can leave it till the parents come home)?

However their dog drops his poo and pee on a piece of paper placed in the hall. Since it's not discreet at all, and just sitting on the very busy hall, someone have to pick up before others accidentally step on it!!! The younger child walk around on the paper with the stains of pees... I also witnessed the postman dropped letters and magazines on the paper.....

Yikes!!!!

Urk. They are dirty people.

Is anyone actually attempting to toilet train this dog?

Poor dog.

Why are they letting the pup poo IN the house? Puppy pads are not, in my opinion, a great idea but should only be used for a few days near the door to the garden while pup is tiny anyway. Doggie needs to be properly toilet trained ie poo and pee is an outside job!! Are the parents just expecting this to miraculously happen with no effort or training? that's gross. No dog should be allowed to go inside, it's also not fair on the dog when they decide to rehome when it's no longer small and cute as seen a billion times before

So it's not a normal way of handling pet toilet at home then? I liked the idea of getting a puppy one day but their way of dealing with the dog toilet issue completely put me off... I actually screamed and ran away madly when I saw the dog stepped in his own poo and ran towards me!!

The children praise the dog and give a treat when the dog managed to poo on the mat so it seems part of toilet training. The mat is placed near the front door (hence the letters land on the mat...). Another mat is placed in the dog pen.

That's just grim - no way should you have to clear that up.

Er no not normal at all, the entire point of toilet training is to teach your dog NOT to go in the house (and to "ask" when they need to go out). Even the most basic dog book or training will show how. Most pups manage it within a few weeks, barring occasional excited accidents or illness, once they are settled in with their family. It's actually quite stupid to teach them it's ok to toilet inside as then you can't take them to visit people, on holiday to dog friendly places etc as no one wants an untrained/wrongly trained dog crapping inside! They sound rather dim as owners.

Does the house have a garden/access to some outdoor space? Somewhere easy to pop pup out - when you start it's every 30 minutes and after every sleep meal and play. Puppies are harder work than babies if it's done right

They have a lovely garden!

Just to update...

I spoke to the mum earlier today about the poo issue. I like the family otherwise so I wanted to clear any misunderstanding of expectation. She was very nice and reassured me we were on the same page and she would talk to her children again to make them aware it's their responsibility.

However, I've just got a text from the mum and she said she would look for a dog friendly nanny who wouldn't mind taking care of it WITH CHILDREN (meaning, the children play with the dog, and the nanny does all the dirty jobs, I guess...).

Sounds like I've lost a job over the dog poo.

Wow that's pretty shoddy

Clearly the children isn't involved in the decision as they are still at school so the mum can't talk to them yet. It's the mum's decision 100%.

Now I seriously wonder if I am a minority and the majority of nannies are happy to deal with the dog poos.

Well if the kids are at primary school, I think they’re too young to be dealing with the poo.

If I had a dog and a nanny I would expect th nanny to deal with the poo but I would check this before getting a dog!!! (Or nanny).

We held off getting pets when we had a nanny as didn’t want her to deal with them as that wouldn’t be fair.

So is she giving you your notice? Such a shame. She obviously said she was ok with the arrangement but actually isn’t at all.

How old are the children?

The oldest is Y7. He is very much capable in my eyes...

I’m not sure about giving an 11 year old responsibility for dog mess.

Anyway, the issue is you’re not happy to. That doesn’t work for her....

Unless it’s just an excuse and she’s looking for another reason.

He's 12, but yes still young. There could be another reason as you say. I am not a nanny after all. I kept accepting their endless requests and became the tutor, homework/music practice supervisor, taxi driver, chef, playmate, carer... I even entertained the children's friends. Just couldn't take up the dog sitter job on top...